Eastbourne

Eastbourne's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in health, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 99,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Eastbourne increased by 11%, from just under 89,700 to 99,400.

The addition of just over 9,700 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Eastbourne was home to, on average, 16 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Health improved

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's well-being.

The percentage of Eastbourne residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10% in 2001 to 6.2% in 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Eastbourne residents that described their health as fair decreased from 26% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. The improvement brought health in Eastbourne close to the regional average 4.4% in the South East described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Eastbourne decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Eastbourne, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Eastbourne

The number of people in Eastbourne that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 15,000 in 2001 to just under 29,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Eastbourne that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 65,000 in 2001 to just over 59,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,300 to about 8,000. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.1% to 8.0%.

About 1,500 people (1.0%) said they were Muslim, up from about 880 in 2001 (1.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Eastbourne increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Eastbourne by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

The percentage of households that owner their home fell in Eastbourne at a faster rate than in nearby Wealden.

In Eastbourne, the proportion of home ownership decreased from 68% in 2001 to 62% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Wealden decreased from 83% to 79%.

Across the South East, the share of households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 67%.

Private renting in Eastbourne increased from 14% to 23%, while the rate of social housing decreased from 16% to 13%.

The rate of home ownership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that that owner their home across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Eastbourne

The percentage of married people fell here, but at a slower rate than in Hastings, a statistically similar local authority area.

In Eastbourne, the proportion of married people decreased from 47% in 2001 to 43% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Hastings decreased from 46% to 40%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 53% to 49%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Eastbourne increased from 28% to 33%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 13% to 14%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Eastbourne working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 8.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Eastbourne decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Eastbourne, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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